attractiontome

npazgizqfge

On and off-screen sweethearts actor-model Zanjoe Marudo and host-actress Mariel Rodriguez will work together for ABS-CBN's upcoming super-series "Varga".

In the series, the latest boob tube superheroine Varga will fall in love with a mortal played by Marudo.

"Masaya kasi first time naming magkakasama sa isang series, dati kasi mga isang episode lang, " Marudo said.

Marudo shared that he is now excited to see Rodriguez wear her sexy superhero costume for the series.

"Varga" is the story of a being from outer space gifted with superpowers and beauty. She lands on earth and becomes destined to protect humankind from the forces of evil with the help a kind-hearted girl.

As an alien superheroine who comes to love and protect humanity, Varga will undergo challenges that will really test her character.

The father of Pinoy superheroes, Mars Ravelo created "Varga" in 1947. "Varga" first appeared in Bulaklak magazine.

It was Varga whom Ravelo would later evolve into the ultimate Pinoy superhero icon, "Darna" in 1949, when the comics creator joined Pilipino Komiks.

"Varga" is the second part of the "Mars Ravelos Komiks Presents" series. The first Komiks series presented "Kapitan Boom!" top-billed by model-turned-actor Jon Avila.

"Kapitan Boom!" is a huge success, enjoying high ratings for its Saturday time-slot.

Other cast members of "Varga" include actresses Dextor Doria, Sheryl Cruz, child actress Angel Sy and Dominic Ochoa.

With a report from ABS-CBN.com

rdhvpccw

MIAMI - The call girl linked to the sex scandal that prompted the resignation of then-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer in March has dropped a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis.
A statement from an attorney for Ashley Alexandra Dupre said the complaint, filed in April in federal court in Miami and alleging illegal use of Dupre's name and image, was withdrawn on Thursday.
"Ms. Dupre wants to eliminate all negativity from her life and focus on the positive. She has prospects for many exciting new projects and is looking forward to starting a new chapter," the statement said.
In the lawsuit, Dupre contended she was 17 and not old enough to sign a legally binding contract when she appeared partially nude in video footage filmed in 2003 by members of Francis' Mantra Films production company in Miami Beach.
On spring break vacation at the time, she was drunk when told to sign a video release form, according to the complaint, which sought damages in excess of $10 million.
Francis had denied the allegations.
Dupre was identified in media reports in March as the woman named "Kristen" linked to "Client 9," the frequent client of an upscale prostitution ring.
U.S. media, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, have said Spitzer was the anonymous "Client 9."

dvnroacg

The Philippine Star
The trial of Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria "Joma" Sison, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, National Democratic Front of the Philippines negotiating panel chairman Luis Jalandoni, and several others for multiple murder has been raffled off to the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32.
The raffle was conducted last Thursday after the Supreme Court approved the transfer of the case from the Hilongos, Leyte court upon the request of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.
Manila RTC Branch 32 Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina will handle the case, which stemmed from an alleged mass grave found in Inopacan, Southern Leyte. Court records said the CPP leaders allegedly ordered the killings as part of a "purge of spies" within the ranks of the New Peoples Army in the 1980s.
Sison, Jalandoni, and Ocampo and several others have denied involvement in the killings.
Of the 67 bodies exhumed by forensic investigators from the NPAs so-called "killing fields" in August 2006, only 15 have been identified.
In ordering the transfer of the case from Leyte court to the Manila RTC, the High Court noted the seriousness of the danger and threat to the lives and safety of the witnesses, prosecutor, and judge.
Last year, Ocampo asked the SC for a transfer of venue of the criminal case from Leyte to Manila, saying "he is apprehensive that a miscarriage of justice would result if venue of the case is not transferred to Manila, for, then, his witnesses cannot safely and freely testify."
Hilongos, Leyte RTC Judge Ephrem Abando denied Ocampos request. When Ocampo elevated his petition to the SC, it was denied in 2007. The High Court, however, granted the transfer last April 23 when Gonzalez made the request. ā€“ Sandy Araneta

cybenlnt

A former agriculture secretary said the government needs to irrigate at least five million hectares of rice lands to achieve its self-sufficiency goal for the Philippines after President Arroyo's term ends.

Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero, former president Ferdinand Marcos's agriculture chief, said the government should be able to do what Vietnam and Thailand did: irrigate five to eight million hectares of rice fields.

"When we left in 1998, there only 1.44 million hectares of irrigated land and I don't know if this number was maintained," Escudero said.

He said the government should immediately release funds for developing irrigated lands. He said the development of these lands will ensure the country's rice self-sufficiency for the next three to four years.

Mrs. Arroyo has announced the government's plan to release up to P43 billion funds for agricultural development starting this year up to 2010. Part of the plan is to develop more irrigated lands in rice-producing provinces, particularly in Luzon regions.

Billions poured into food program

The President announced a "wide array" of agriculture initiatives she dubbed as FIELDS during a food summit in Pampanga on April 4.

At least P43.7 billion funds for agriculture were allotted by Mrs. Arroyo during the food summit. The funds include:

* P500 million for fertilizer support and production.
* P6 billion per year for large and small irrigation systems.
* P6 billion per year for farm-to-market roads and Roll-On-Roll-Off ports.
* P5 billion for research and development, capacity building, and improving educational efforts for the agriculture and fisheries sector.
* P2 billion for hybrid seeds .
* P6 billion for certified seeds .
* P2 billion for dryers and other post-harvest facilities.
* P15 billion for agricultural loans to farmers, most of which will be coursed through Landbank.

The Philippines has been tagged as the biggest rice importing country in the world, despite having vast agricultural land.

The government has been banking on imported rice from Vietnam, Thailand and United States to sustain its needs during the lean months of July until September.

The agricultural department said 1.7 million metric tons of imported rice are expected to be shipped into the country to augment the National Food Authority's depleted rice stock.

iqulwdto

CHICAGO - More than 40 percent of the nation's 10.8 million underage drinkers got their alcohol free from adults -- and many got it from their own parents, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.
Up to 650,000 youths and underage adults were given alcoholic beverages by their parents or guardians in the past month, they said.
Congress effectively raised the U.S. legal drinking age to 21 in 1984 when it passed a measure that threatened to take highway funding away from states that did not comply.
Acting Surgeon General Dr. Steven Galson said parents enable underage drinking far too often.
"Many parents don't realize how risky drinking alcohol can be for kids. There are 5,000 people under the age of 21 who die every year related to alcohol. That is a really disturbing number of people," Galson said in a telephone interview.
"Alcohol use is related to many, many types of injuries," he said, including sexual assault, falls, automobile accidents and increased rates of suicides and homicides.
Galson said underage drinking has remained fairly stable from year to year, so "the bottom line is that the problem is not going away."
The report by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 3.5 million underage drinkers each year abuse or are addicted to alcohol.
The report is based on a nationwide survey of 158,000 people aged 12 to 20 who answered questions about behavior and social situations involved in underage drinking.
Not surprisingly, alcohol use increased with age. The report found that 7 percent of youths aged 12 to 14 were using alcohol, compared with 27.5 percent of youths aged 15 to 17 and 51.3 percent of 18 to 20 year olds.
It found that in the past month, one in five people aged 12 to 20 have engaged in binge drinking -- drinking five or more drinks at a party, for example.
More than 80 percent of underage drinkers said they were with two or more friends the last time they drank.
The study found that when there were two or more people present, underage drinkers drank an average of 4.9 drinks, compared with 3.1 drinks when only one other person was present, and 2.9 drinks when they were drinking alone.
More than half of underage drinkers said they were at someone's house when they had their last drink, and 30 percent were in their own home.
The study's findings will be used in an underage drinking prevention campaign by the Office of the Surgeon General.

iqulwdto

By CHARO LOGARTA
ABS-CBN News
International Containers Terminal Services, Inc. is cautiously optimistic on its growth prospects this year, as a global economic slowdown will likely cut international trade and shipments.
In its stockholders meeting, Enrique Razon, Jr., ICTSI chairman and president, said that while the company's domestic and overseas operations remain strong, it was difficult to predict how a recession in the United States, and consequently, an economic slowdown in the rest of the world would impact on its performance.
"We've set up ourselves to be financially strong," Razon said. "We expect our new terminal operations to mitigate any possible global slowdown."
ICTSI's net income was up 46.7% in 2007 at P2.695 billion. Earnings attributable to equity holders grew 52.1% to P2.794 billion.
Gross revenues from its port operations reached P15 billion last year, up 26.6% from 2006, 54% of which came from its Philippine operations.
The company Thursday declared a P0.35 per share cash dividend to shareholders on record as of May 8, 2008. Payment date is on May 18, 2008.
ICTSI also reshuffled its board, following the retirement of Dante Santos. Jon Ramon Aboitiz, President of Aboitiz & Co and Aboitiz Equity Ventures is the latest addition to ICTSI's board.
Razon no comment on NBN row
The ICTSI annual stockholders meeting was also the first time Razon was seen in the public eye after several months.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Razon gamely answered questions pertaining to the company, but flat-out refused to answer questions on his alleged role in the controversial government's national broadband network deal with China's ZTE Corp.
"I am only answering ICTSI questions," Razon said.
Razon is said to be very close to President Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. He was treasurer for Team Unity in the 2007 mid-term elections, and is one of the President's biggest contributor to her campaign funds.
NBN witness Jose "Joey" de Venecia III had alleged that Razon was one of those who lobbied for the approval of the NBN-ZTE contract.
Last year, Razon sent a feisty statement through media, denying his alleged involvement in the ZTE scandal.
"In a year, I spend almost 200 days out of the country. How could I possibly find time to participate in these political issues? It just doesn't make sense! The ZTE scandal is an issue involving people who have no business involving themselves in government contracts such as government officials and children of government officials. I would never get involved in such an unseemly affair," said Razon in a statement last October 3, 2007.

fynwjwli

By SHEILA CRISOSTOMO and ARNELL OZAETA
The Philippine Star The Department of Health sent Monday a team of experts to Calamba, Laguna to contain the outbreak of typhoid fever there, affecting some 752 residents.
DOH chief epidemiologist Dr. Eric Tayag said the experts were also tasked to assess the capability of Calamba hospitals in handling huge number of typhoid fever patients.
Tayag hinted the experts would have to initiate "triaging system" in these hospitals to separate typhoid fever patients from other patients.
"Many patients are now going to the hospitals and some of their ailments may not be typhoid fever. So we have put triaging system in place to determine who among them are actually sick with typhoid ," he told The STAR.
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening disease caused by salmonella typhi bacterium that can be acquired from food and drinks that have been handled by an infected individual or if contaminated sewage gets into the water used for drinking or washing food.
Tayag said that 27 patients have tested positive for salmonella typhi while others are still being observed in hospitals.
He said that chlorinated waters must be distributed to the residents while the source of contamination is not yet known.
Tayag added that residents must also observe precautionary measures like boiling of drinking water, frequent hand washing and other sanitary practices to contain the outbreak.
Additionally, the Philippine National Red Cross Laguna Chapter declared an outbreak of typhoid fever in Calamba City Monday after at least 504 patients were admitted in different hospitals for treatment.
Rudelly Cabuti, PNRC-Laguna administrator said local hospitals here started admitting patients from Feb. 16 until March 1, after complaining of severe headache, high fever, body malaise and diarrhea. Cabuti said their city branch chairman in Calamba City, Lerma Pascual reported the increasing number of typhoid fever patients in the area confined at nine government and private hospitals.
"Two teams were already dispatched to verify and assess the number of people affected in Barangay Bucal with reported patients of more than two thousand were affected, while 700 in barangay Pansol" Cabuti said.
Per record of patients admitted in the hospital, 18 barangays were affected with typhoid fever identified as follows: Bagong Kalsada , Bucal, Halang, Lecheria, Looc, Makiling, Paciano, Sucol, San Juan, Barangay 1 to Barangay 7, San Cristobal and San Jose.
Cabuti said the source of their water supply is from the Calamba Water District but theres no official report yet on the contamination as of presstime.
Based on the PNRC surveys, Calamba Medical Center has the most number of admission with 117 patients, Dr. J.P. Rizal Memorial District Hospital-79; Pamana Medical Center, 86; Calamba Doctors Hospital, 79; Jose Hospital & Trauma Center; St.John the Baptist, 30; Dr. BG Donasco, 15; St James Cabrini Medical Center, 49; and Pagamutang Pangmasa ng Laguna, 20 patients.
According to these hospitals, there were enormous numbers of OPD patients everyday, however, some of them were referred to other hospitals for lack of available beds.
Calamba Mayor Joaquin Chipeco in a radio interview said they already started disseminating information through the media on how to prevent the spread of typhoid fever. With Ed Amoroso

fbresiD`

Reuters

The Philippines may exceed its annual inflation target this year of 3 to 5 percent because of the spike in commodity prices, central bank deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo said on Thursday.

"Depending on the movements in oil and non-oil commodity prices, inflation could settle above the 2008 inflation target range but will be within the 2.5-4.5 percent for 2009," Guinigundo told reporters.

He added the central bank would revise next week its average inflation estimate for 2008 of 4 to 5 percent. Inflation in 2007 was at 2.8 percent, the lowest since 1986.

Guinigundo's comments follow similar remarks from the bank's chief Amando Tetangco who said last week that the country's inflation goal for this year was "clouded with risks."

Briefing journalists, Antonio Cintura, head of the department of economic research of the central bank said: "Balance of risks to the inflation outlook is tilted towards the upside and there are some indications that demand-side inflation pressures are setting in,"

Annual inflation in April jumped to a near three-year high of 8.3 percent and came in above the central bank's estimate.

The central bank has said it will act decisively if commodity-fuelled inflation spreads to the broader economy, indicating it may raise rates at its next policy meeting in June.

The monetary authority kept interest rates unchanged at 5 percent for overnight borrowing and 7 percent for lending at its April policy meeting.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has signed an executive order granting a 10 percent wage hike for government workers effective July and labor groups are pressing for a minimum wage increase following the surge in food and oil prices.

Transport groups are also demanding an increase in basic fares as world oil prices hovered at record highs.

Tetangco said last month second round effects from high oil and food prices could convince authorities to adjust monetary policy and possibly raise rates.

Ymmugr

Reuters

LOS ANGELES - US regulators on Thursday lifted a warning on tomatoes and repeated a warning on peppers as the possible cause of an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul in which more than 1,200 people have reported getting sick.

The US Food and Drug Administration repeated its warning that young children, the elderly or people with compromised immune systems should avoid fresh jalapeno and Serrano peppers.

Regulators have struggled to pinpoint the source of the outbreak, which has raised questions about US food safety and prompted lawmakers to demand new systems to trace fresh produce from farm to table.

FDA said it removed the tomato warning because there are no longer any tomatoes coming into the market from producers that were being looked at as possible sources of contamination.

"Tomatoes that are currently on the market in the US are safe to consume," David Acheson, assistant commissioner for food protection at the FDA, said in a conference call.

The warning had been in place since June 7 and regulators subsequently traced the outbreak back to April.

"This is not saying that anybody was absolved," Acheson said.

Regulators never found Salmonella Saintpaul at any tomato farms or packing plants, even though early indicators pointed to tomatoes as the source of illness.

In addition to the hot peppers, food safety officials are investigating whether cilantro played a role in the outbreak.

"We still do not know where the original contamination point was," Acheson said.

Ibplab

The publicly listed holding firm of Senate President Manuel Villar on Tuesday posted a 73.2-percent jump in first-half core net income on the back of strong residential sales.

Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., the country's fourth-largest homebuilder, said core net profit, or earnings from real estate sales, rose to P1.61 billion from P930 million.

Real estate revenue grew 28.2 percent to P5.27 billion from P4.11 billion.

Ricardo Tan Jr., Vista Land's senior vice president for finance and chief information officer, attributed the growth in earnings to the strong low- and middle-income housing segments.

We are on track to meet our full year revenue and profit targets. Our gross profit margin remains at 50 percent, he said in a media briefing.

Despite the impact of high inflation and interest rates, Vista Land is bullish on future sales take-up, citing steady demand for homes here and abroad.

Property developers are capitalizing on robust remittances of overseas-based Filipinos, who send home an average of at least $1 billion monthly.

Vista Land, for its part, said investments from its overseas buyers continue to account for the bulk of 50-60 percent of the company's total sales.

Tan noted that the company has seen a slowdown in sales in the US market but this was offset by strong demand from the Middle East and Europe.

Meanwhile, Vista Land president Benjamarie Serrano said they are looking to raise an additional P2 billion through borrowings to partly finance the company's capital expenditure program of P5.1 billion in the second half.

Vista Land has lined up over 20 projects for launching in the second half for its high-end luxury brand Brittany and low- and middle-income brands C&P Homes and Crown Asia. It expects to rake in revenues of over P20 billion from the said projects.

In the first semester, it had 21 new projects with a total value of P14 billion.

Lbxspk

BEIJING - Troubled US investment bank Morgan Stanley is in talks to sell a stake of up to 49 percent to China's sovereign wealth fund, the Financial Times reported Friday, citing people close to the discussions. The talks with China Investment Corp., or CIC, which bought a 9.9 percent stake in Morgan Stanley in December, were advanced but no deal had been clinched yet, the paper said, quoting unidentified sources. Morgan Stanley's top management prefer a stake sale to CIC to a merger with US lender Wachovia, according to the paper. The paper said CIC president Gao Xiqing had been scheduled to meet Morgan Stanley executives in San Francisco. When asked by China's state-run Xinhua news agency, an unnamed CIC official did not rule out the prospect of buying a stake in Morgan Stanley but pointed to political hurdles in the United States over such a deal. Even if the CIC intended to buy a stake, it could be very hard now as the purchase of a stake, even one smaller than 10 percent, could be subject to the US government foreign investment review, the official said. The Financial Times also said the sale of a significant stake of a blue-chip Wall Street firm to a state-owned Chinese institution could cause a political backlash in Washington. Nick Footitt, Morgan Stanley spokesman in Hong Kong, declined to comment on the report when contacted by AFP Friday. CIC was established last year charged with managing 200 billion dollars of China's bulging forex reserves, and has become an iconic symbol of the country's growing financial muscle as it scours the world for acquisition targets. The Government of Singapore Investment Corp , one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, said Thursday it would explore a possible stake in Morgan Stanley if the US investment bank made an approach. CNBC business network reported Thursday that Morgan Stanley was also in talks to be bought by the Chinese bank CITIC. The reports came in the same week that US investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy while another Wall Street firm, Merrill Lynch, was forced to sell itself to Bank of America for 50 billion dollars.

Nxzlfx

TOKYO - You're never too old to fall in love.
That's what Yoji Kawamura figured after retiring at the age of 62 and deciding that part-time work and his new hobbies of photography and computers weren't enough to fill his days.
Like a small but growing number of older Japanese singles, Kawamura has turned to an online matchmaking service in search of someone to share his "second life".
"When you reach my age, the scope of your activities shrinks and you can only meet people within a narrow circle," said Kawamura, sipping coffee in a cafe in Tokyo. "If you want to go outside that circle, you don't know how."
A former taxi driver who divorced 26 years ago and is now 65, Kawamura signed up with U.S.-based online dating service Match.com, part of Internet conglomerate IAC/InterActiveCorp . last July.
"My horizons have widened and my life is richer because I can make friends," said the goateed Kawamura, who is now dating three women, two of whom are nine years his junior and one who is 62.
Launched in Japan in 2004 and now boasting about 840,000 members, Match.com began targeting the mature market after seeing the fastest growth in membership among the over-50 set, an age group once thought over the hill when it came to romance.
Although nearly half of Match.com members in Japan are aged 30-39, another 9 percent are aged 50 and over.
"It used to be considered that people aged 50 and over didn't talk about love. People would say, 'No way, you're too old'," said Match.com Japan President Katsuki Kuwano.
"These days, it's become acceptable for people in that age group to talk about marriage and love."
CULTURAL CHANGE
The growth of Japan's graying population is partly behind such changing views. Already one in five Japanese are aged 65 or older and the percentage is expected to double by mid-century.
Older Japanese have become more at ease with the Internet, while the numbers of people who have never married or who divorce, often after decades of marriage, is on the rise.
"With an increase in the divorce rate and more and more people accepting second marriages, that has definitely changed," said James Farrer, a sociology professor at Sophia University in Tokyo.
"I think there is a cultural change in the way these things are talked about in the media," he added. "There is a sense that older people are sexual, and it's legitimate to talk about it."
Adult children who once expected to live with their parents and discouraged them from remarrying are also more supportive.
"People are living longer and more families are nuclear. There are more people like me who are living alone," Kawamura said. "Adult children are now keen for their parents to find someone to be with. Then they don't have to feel anxious."
Other online entrepreneurs eyeing the same market agree changing values are making it easier for older Japanese to own up to a yearning for romance -- and do something about it.
"People in their 20s and 30s think it's important to find their own happiness, so they can understand their parents wanting to do the same," said Junichi Ikeda, president of online marriage consultancy "Ai Senior", or "Senior Love". He boasts his oldest member is a 90-year-old man.
LINGERING IMAGE PROBLEMS
Still, an image of online dating services as shady fronts for sleazy one-night stands and prostitution lingers.
"I haven't told my children because I think it's best to meet someone naturally," said Match.com member Naomi, a 52-year-old divorcee who signed up in February. "That may be an old-fashioned way of thinking, but the image of dating sites isn't very good."
Such concerns are one reason why women make up only 40 percent of Match.com members in Japan compared with 50 percent in the United States, Kuwano said. Another is pride.
"They are afraid that using the Internet to find someone makes them look like losers," he said.
Online or off, the search for love can still be fraught with obstacles, including the potential for mismatched priorities.
A Match.com survey showed that Japanese men and women both put "shared values" as their top priority in a partner but men list "similar personality" second, while women cite income.
Kawamura says he experienced just that problem when he first joined Match.com, one reason he dropped out for a while.
"I'd send and receive email and they'd ask about my job. But my occupation is at the bottom of the scale in Japan," he said.
Lately, though, things are looking up and Kawamura has moved near one of his women friends so they can get to know each other better. But he's not in a rush.
"The most basic thing is to be honest. And to be patient."

Ulybja

Roberto Lerio scored a first round TKO over former Australian amateur standout Jeff Clulow at the Shoalhaven Sports & Social Club in New South Wales.

A report from Australia said Lerio dropped Clulow who was making his pro debut twice in the opening round forcing referee Les Fear to call a halt at 2:53 of round one.

With the win, Lerio improved to 7-6 with 3 knockouts. It was the Filipino junior featherweights second win following a third round knockout suffered in the hands of undefeated Daniel Iannazzo last March 28.

In his first fight after the KO loss, Lerio scored a sixth round split decision over Emmanuel Micallef last May.

The Lerio-Clulow fight was a supporting bout to the main event in which 36-year-old Australian Shannan Taylor scored a third round KO over badly overmatched Thai Klathanong Sithkrupon in an IBF Pan-Pacific super middleweight title fight.

The 25-year-old Thai was dropped twice in the first round and was down again in the second. Taylor improved to 47-6-3, 33 KOs while Klathanong dropped to 8-5 with 3 KOs.

Lbxspk

FUNFARE By RICARDO F. LO The first thing that people notice in Marvin Raymundo is his cute, bedimpled smile, even when he was among the Star Magic Batch 15 launched by the ABS-CBN Star Magic. Zoom out a bit and you notice his good looks that, according to talent-scout/manager Keren Pascual, ā€œgrows on you...and grows and grows...,ā€ and then, zoom out some more, his well-kept, well-toned body. ā€œHe stands out even without his trying to,ā€ adds Keren who has an eye for beauty .
The Philippine Star
At first, the 20-year-old model-turned-actor didnt think that he would get into showbiz. "But," he smiled, "destiny has a surprise in store for me." The "surprise" came in the form of an offer from director Gilbert Perez for Marvin to play Anne Curtis brother in the ABS-CBN soap May Minamahal. "They say that when opportunity knocks, you have to grab it," added Marvin. "It might not knock again, you know."
More offers poured in: Guestings in more ABS-CBN shows like Gokada Go , the Matt Evans starrer Pedro Penduko and Your Song. He was a regular on the Vhong Navarro telefantasya starrer Lastikman and Super Inggo 1.5 .
A member of the ASAP Coverboys , Marvin is also an endorser for Smart, Globe, Oishi, Cali, Cream-O, Greenwich, Modess and Jollibee.
A Kapampangan, Marvin is the youngest of three children . He finished grade school and high school at Don Bosco Pampanga and BS Human Resource Management at La Salle-College of St. Benilde. "Why that course?" asked Marvin. "Because its people-oriented. Im interested in people."
In 2004 and in 2007, Marvin was named one of the Cosmopolitan Bachelors. "Im flattered," quipped Marvin who claimed to be "unattached"
Marvin stands 511" and weighs 160 lbs.
With your tight schedule, do you get enough sleep?
"Yes, I try to get as much sleep as I can during my free time. Thats how I energize myself. I usually get five to six hours of sleep. Before I joined showbiz, I would sleep for as long as I wanted to."
Whats your favorite sleepwear?
"Boxer shorts."
Never in the nude?
"Never. Whenever I sleep, I want to be as comfortable as possible. But Im not comfortable sleeping in the nude."
Whats the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
"Pray. I also play with my Play Station Portable ."
Whats your favorite PSP game?
"NBA Live ā€˜07."
Whats the first thing that you do when you wake up?
"I usually check my phone first, then brush my teeth and wash my face."
What does your diet consist of?
"I dont follow a strict diet. I just watch what I eat. I actually eat anything I like but in moderation to maintain my physique."
What sort of workout do you do?
"I hit the gym at least twice a week."
What kind of food do you prefer?
"I love Filipino dishes especially adobo and sinigang."
How much water do you take per day?
"At least eight glasses."
Are you vain like most good-looking men?
"No. But I make sure I always look good and neat."
How long does it take you to fix yourself?
"Usually from 20 to 30 minutes. I take a shower, get dressed and fix my hair."
Whats your favorite perfume?
"Bvlgari Extreme."
Do you apply anything on your face, skin?
"Just mild soap."
What part of your body is your favorite?
"My arms. People say I have well-defined arms.
What part do you think needs improvement?
"My chest and abs. Theyre not yet well-defined. I have to go to the gym more often."
What part are you conscious of when youre in trunks?
"Hmmm, I guess its my legs. I dont get to work on that part enough.".
What part of a girls body do you look at first?
"The eyes first. I like girls with expressive eyes."
What other parts of a girls body turn you on?
"A pretty face, nice set of teeth and nice skin. If she has a sense of humor, so much the better. I love it when a girl makes me laugh."
And what type of girls turns you off?
"The maarte and self-centered types."
Do you smoke?
"No."
Do you drink?
"Yes, occasionally."
Do you do drugs?
"No. Never!"
How do you cope with stress?
"I stay home to get some rest. I also watch movies, usually action movies, with my family and friends. Sometimes, I get a massage. Or I listen to music."
What kind of music?
"I like R&B, hip-hop and alternative. My iPod has to have Justin Timberlake songs in it. Also songs by Timbaland, The Killers, Incubus, The Perishers and Snow Patrol. Fast-paced songs, whether hip-hop or alternative, also have to be in my iPod to keep me up and about."
Any favorite hideaway or city?
"Yes, our resort, Villa Antonina . I go there to chill out and unwind. I also like going to Boracay or Tagaytay. Its healthy to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city once in a while and be surrounded by nature."
Hows your night life? What do you do? Where do you go?
"I rarely go to ā€˜it places. I just hang out with friends in our resort everytime I am in Pampanga."
Hows your love life?
"Im happy right now."
Whos your favorite fantasy figure?
"Petra Nemcova. She has appeared in Victorias Secret catalogs. Shes the typical ā€˜fantasy girl. She has a pretty face and a nice body."
How do you deal with aggressive women?
"I try to be friendly to them. But I try to stay away from those types."
Name three women you think have nice bodies.
"Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Alba and Heidi Klum."
And three men...
"Brad Pitt, Ryan Reynolds and Will Smith."
Using only body language, how would you make a woman know that you admire or like her?
"I make eye contact. Youll pretty much know if the girl is also interested in you just by looking at her eyes."

Flwkmg

Reuters WASHINGTON - Pope Benedict will carry a message of peace during a six-day US visit beginning on Tuesday, but Osama bin Laden's recent condemnations of the Roman Catholic leader have put security officials on edge. US intelligence authorities and Church officials say there are no specific, credible threats surrounding the first American papal visit since the September 11 attacks in 2001. But they are mindful that al Qaeda's leader in March accused Benedict taking part in a "new crusade" against Muslims, which has raised already-high security worries. Security for the pontiff's visit to Washington and New York is tighter than previous papal trips, officials said. Other Islamist militants previously threatened Benedict over his quotation in 2006 of a medieval text condemning Islam's Prophet Mohammed. The last papal visit to the United States, by Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul, was in 1999. "We have to take what al Qaeda leaders say seriously. It's not just rhetoric," said Charles Allen, US undersecretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis. He told reporters an assessment by Homeland Security and the FBI found "no direct threat to the pope" and security officials said bin Laden's latest message did not alter their plans. But they plan an all-out protection effort overseen by the US Secret Service. The agency declined to specify security measures. New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said they would include thousands of police on the streets, scuba divers in the East River, radiation detectors and flight restrictions. "There was certainly a very robust plan when the previous pope visited New York. I would venture to say that there is perhaps a little more now," Kelly said. "This is a post-9/11 event, and we have to factor in other considerations." Security is so tight that no Sikh can attend a meeting between the pope and leaders of other religions because he would not be allowed to wear the "kirpan" ceremonial dagger all men baptized in the faith must wear. Peace theme Peace in the Middle East and elsewhere will be the main theme of Benedict's message, capped by a speech to the United Nations on Friday, said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. The German-born pontiff will also meet in Washington with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and representatives of other religions at Catholic University on Thursday. He plans to visit a New York synagogue on Friday a day before the start of Passover. "In our world people are looking to the religious bodies to work together to bring people together," Walsh said. "The pope is especially concerned about peace in the Middle East." Benedict has frequently cited the suffering of Iraqis and called for an end to the war. In his Easter Mass he decried what he called assaults on human dignity in Darfur, Somalia, the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon and Tibet. Benedict's UN speech will attack the notion that "might is right," said the papal envoy, Archbishop Celestino Migliore. US President George W. Bush will greet Benedict at Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday, and host him at the White House on Wednesday, Benedict's 81st birthday. Benedict is expected to recognize American diversity and deliver messages of hope in Masses at Nationals Park in Washington and Yankee Stadium in New York, to worshipers who obtained tickets from their local churches. During the visit, he also is expected to address the scandal of priests sexually abusing youths that erupted in 2002 and still tarnishes the Church's moral authority. Public opportunities to see the pope include his short trips in the "popemobile" equipped with bulletproof glass. He is scheduled to pray at the Ground Zero, the New York site of the World Trade Center towers that fell on September 11, 2001. Benedict's US visit is a tempting symbolic target for al Qaeda, but there are enormous obstacles to a successful attack because of the elaborate and sophisticated protections he will be given, said terrorism expert Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Former Secret Service Agent Ronald Williams, who helped protect John Paul during US visits in 1979 and 1987, said concerns were different then -- officials prepared against a potential deranged attacker or a surge of adoring crowds. "Today's threat, it's much more sophisticated and organized," said Williams, who now heads security firm Talon Executive Services in California.

Sdlkoz

CHICAGO - Democrat Barack Obama stoked furious speculation by holding fire on his running mate announcement Friday, as a Texan dark horse candidate deepened the mystery around the closely guarded decision.

The Illinois senator's campaign meanwhile hurled new blows against his multiple-home-owning Republican rival John McCain, branding him aloof from US economic woes, in the run-up to next week's Democratic convention.

Obama says he has already selected his vice presidential running mate and according to aides was holed up in a downtown Chicago hotel to work on the convention acceptance speech he will deliver in a Denver stadium next Thursday.

Three contenders in descending order of media buzz were Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, who is a foreign-policy veteran, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine.

The campaign has promised to release the VP news first to signed-up supporters via cell phone text messages and email. But TV networks were taking no chances, camping outside the homes of the potential candidates and at Chicago's Midway airport.

Obama's choice will be unveiled at the latest at a campaign event Saturday in Springfield, Illinois, the town where he first launched his White House bid in February 2007.

A little-known dark horse entered the pack as Texan lawmaker Chet Edwards, whose House of Representatives district encompasses President George W. Bush's Crawford ranch, disclosed that he had been vetted by Obama aides.

I've been considered throughout this process, he told CNN, welcoming the support he has received as a prospective VP by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the country's top elected Democrat.

But I've respected the process from day one and I want to continue to do that today, and allow any details about the process and final decisions to be made by Senator Obama and their campaign, not by anybody else, Edwards said.

One politician apparently ruling herself out was Hillary Clinton, whom Obama vanquished for the Democratic nomination and who is now being watched attentively for any signs of unhappiness as she prepares to speak in Denver.

I am not in that arena. This is his decision and I respect him to make it however he thinks is best for him and the country, the New York senator and former first lady told reporters.

Clinton, who has campaigned this week in Florida on Obama's behalf, denied that she had been less than wholehearted in her support of the new Democratic champion.

I think it's a fair assessment that I've done more than anybody else in my position, she said.

In a CBS interview that aired early Friday, Obama again refused to drop any VP hints and dwelled instead on attacking McCain as being out of touch with the anxieties of ordinary voters.

The Democrat said he himself had only struck it rich in the last couple of years, as his book sales took off.

John McCain's been living like this for the last 25. And, obviously, doesn't have a very clear sense of what ordinary Americans are going through, he said.

McCain was also off the campaign trail Friday, finalizing his own VP pick days before next week's Democratic National Convention marks the formal start of hostilities for November's presidential election.

While both the candidates will be officially anointed their party nominees over the next fortnight, they have been locked in running battles for weeks already -- and are now engaged in some of the fiercest clashes yet.

The Obama camp has since Thursday been heaping scorn on McCain after the Arizona senator, in an interview with Politico.com, could not say how many homes he and his wealthy wife own.

The Democrat's second ad on the gaffe said the number was seven, although USA Today said it could be as high as 12, and noted his jokey assertion that only an annual income of five million dollars qualifies someone as rich.

Maybe McCain thinks this economy is working -- for folks like him, the ad's sorrowful narrator says. But how are things going for you?

McCain's campaign battled to limit the damage by pointing to Obama's ties to convicted fraudster Tony Rezko, a Chicago businessman and fundraiser who helped the Democrat with the purchase of his spacious family home.

Fbresi

Reuters

The Philippine said on Wednesday it expected to issue $1.25-$1.75 billion worth of debt-exchange warrants to holders of its foreign currency bonds on May 29 for a minimum price of $10.50 each.

The warrants, which will allow holders of foreign currency bonds to convert to peso bonds in the event of a default, will be sold via Dutch auction beginning on Thursday.

Gczfxh

By REYMA BUAN-DEVEZA

After dropping virtual bombs all over the Internet, the controversial man behind the Gucci Gang controversy, Brian Gorrell will reveal more on Studio 23s "Y-Speak."
Gorrell will bare all in an exclusive phone interview direct from Australia with the show's host Mo Twister.
Watch and listen to his explosive stories this Saturday, April 19 and get to know Gorrells goals in creating the blog.
Get to know his reactions to his blog's overwhelming number of hits, and his response to former lover DJ Montanos first TV interview on ABS-CBN News Channels "Korina Today." Gorrell has accused Montano of swindling him of US $70,000.
Host Bianca Gonzales will probe into and explain further the pop culture phenomenon called blogging and how it affects the lives of people. Atom Araullo moderates and listens to what the youth has to say on blogging censorship issues.
Blogging has been one of the youths most powerful tools to express themselves and spread information. But up to what extent can this power be used?
Hear the answers tomorrow, April 19, on the most awarded youth panel discussion program, "Y-Speak," at 7:30 p.m. on Studio 23.

Nxzlfx

The Philippine team is determined to win the crown in the Asian Football Club Challenge Cup qualifying competition hosted by the province of Iloilo starting Tuesday.

Although teams like Bhutan, Brunei and Tajikistan are considered some of the most powerful teams in Asia, the Filipinos assure fans they have a fighting chance.

"If we wanna qualify, we have to win every game," team member Philip Younghusband said.

The philippine team is composed of 16 players, seven of them are Filipino-foreigners.

Team members said they believe they have an advantage in terms of the strong lineup and intense training.

They, however, urged fans to support them by watching their matches.

The games are open and free for fans at the Iloilo Sports Complex and at the Barotac Nuevo Football Plaza. John Mark Guda, ABS-CBN Iloilo

Sdlkoz

TOKYO - Jelena Jankovic said Tuesday she was determined to regain the title of world number one at this week's Pan Pacific Open in Japan after holding the rank for just one week. Anytime you achieve the number one ranking, it doesn't matter whether it's for a week or many years, said the 23-year-old from Belgrade, who spent her brief stint as world number one during the Beijing Olympics. Of course, I'd love to come back to that spot. That's why I'm here to play. I really want to come back to the number one position. I'll try my best. Jankovic had a chance to regain the top spot at the US Open, but she lost to Serena Williams in the final, giving the number one ranking to the American. She is only 126 behind Williams at second place this week. It's every player's dream to become number one in the world, Jankovic said. I'm just the 18th player in the history of tennis to achieve that, so it's a huge achievement. But not many people make it and I'm really proud that I'm one of those who joined the selection of great champions, added Jankovic, also the semi-finalist at the Australian and French Opens. She and three other top seeds -- her compatriot Ana Ivanovic, Russian duo of Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina -- received first-round byes in the 1.34 million-dollar outdoor tournament. Top-seeded Jankovic will take on either Flavia Pennetta of Italy or Shahar Peer of Israel in the second round, vying for the top prize of 196,900 dollars.